Touch Flashcards
(25 cards)
Poem Title & Author
“Touch” by Douglas Livingstone
Central Theme 1
The profound intimacy and connection conveyed through physical touch, transcending mere physical contact.
Central Theme 2
The power of love to provide solace, comfort, and safety in a vulnerable world.
Central Theme 3
The fragility and preciousness of human connection and emotional well-being.
Poetic Form & Structure
Free verse. Two stanzas (unequal length: 11 lines and 12 lines). No strict rhyme or meter, mimicking natural speech.
Speaker & Point of View
First-person speaker (“I”) addressing a beloved (“you”), conveying an intimate, personal experience.
Tone (Overall)
Intimate, tender, vulnerable, reassuring, contemplative, and deeply appreciative.
Literary Device: Imagery (Tactile)
Focus on sensation: “cold flesh,” “warm palms,” “tensed hand,” “soft” – grounding the poem in physical experience.
Literary Device: Metaphor (for touch)
“A small dry leaf, wind-blown, on a cold slab” (line 1) – initial feeling of vulnerability before connection.
Literary Device: Simile (for touch)
“or as a feather on a tensed hand held” (line 2) – further emphasizes the delicate, weightless nature of the initial contact.
Literary Device: Enjambment Example
“No, better: / you are the sun, and I the earth / whose life you make” (lines 14-16) – creates a flowing thought, linking ideas.
Literary Device: Alliteration Example
“small dry leaf, wind-blown, on a cold slab” (line 1) - emphasizes the desolation and coldness.
Literary Device: Assonance Example
“cold slab” (line 1) or “soft, smooth stone” (line 5) - creates a sense of flow and internal rhythm.
“a small dry leaf, wind-blown, on a cold slab” (line 1) – Analysis
Metaphor for the speaker’s initial feeling of isolation, vulnerability, and lifelessness before the touch.
“soft, smooth stone” (line 5) – Analysis
Metaphor for the hand (or the self) becoming resilient, comforted, and softened by the beloved’s touch.
Significance of the shift in imagery from “leaf/feather” to “stone”
Shows the transformative power of touch – from fragile and isolated to grounded, firm, and comforted.
“I would be blind if I could feel your touch” (line 12) – Analysis
Hyperbole emphasizing that the sensation of touch is so profound, it could replace sight, suggesting deep sensual connection.
“you are the sun, and I the earth / whose life you make” (lines 14-16) – Analysis
Extended metaphor highlighting the beloved’s vital, life-giving role for the speaker, like the sun sustains earth.
The “quiet pulse” and “calm river” (lines 8-9)
Metaphors for the soothing, natural flow of comfort and reassurance exchanged through touch.
The “tensed hand” (line 2) vs. the “tensed heart” (line 7)
Shows the progression from physical tension to emotional anxiety that is ultimately relieved by the touch.
How does the poem contrast vulnerability and security?
Begins with images of exposed fragility (“leaf,” “feather,” “cold slab”) and moves to images of warmth, solidity, and life-giving security (“stone,” “sun,” “earth”).
Livingstone’s context (briefly)
A South African poet, often explored themes of human relationships, nature, and the animal world, known for precise observation and sensual imagery.
The poem’s message about human connection
Physical touch is not merely tactile; it’s a profound channel for emotional support, reassurance, and validation that sustains life.
What does the touch provide the speaker?
Solace from inner turmoil, a sense of grounding, life, warmth, and an overwhelming feeling of being cared for and understood.
